Implementation of a Civic Engagement Community Change Model by a Community College through the Integration of Technology and Social Media as Strategic Element.

By: Professor Hector W. Soto, J.D.
Assistant Professor of Law and Public Policy;
Behavioral and Social Sciences Department Public Policy and Law Unit
Hostos Community College CUNY, The Bronx, New York

Email: HSoto@Hostos.cuny.edu

Telephone: (O) 718-518-6718 & (C) 917-557-7925 (cell preferred)

 

ABSTRACT

Historically, the role of the community college has been to serve the non-traditional student.  Today’s community college is confronted with the challenge that it is failing to attract and graduate in appropriate numbers that non-traditional student, commonly referred to as coming from an underserved or marginalized community, usually referencing poor communities of color. In spite of a general diminution of law and policies providing a remedy for past exclusionary practices, higher education understands that as a matter of equity it has an obligation to provide educational opportunity to the marginalized community. This obligation traditionally has also required the college to be responsive to the needs of the community.

The purpose of this paper is threefold: to propose that a college’s responsiveness to community now needs to include addressing the conditions that contribute to its marginalization; to posit the civic engagement community change model as the vehicle for the college to develop the kind of collaborative and mutually beneficial relationship with the community that will catalyze curative change; and to underscore the necessity of integrating the use of technology as a strategic element in the development and implementation of the college’s civic engagement initiative. Successful implementation of a civic engagement community change model will result in a greater number of graduates from that community, as well as spur the development of a more cohesive, stable and civically engaged community.

KEY WORDS

Community college and civic engagement, community college and community change, civic engagement community change model, community college-marginalized community collaboration, technology and civic engagement, technology and community change, equity and the underserved student, equity and community change, marginalized community development, technology and community development, community college responsiveness to community needs.

Prof. Hector W. Soto, J.D

 

Assistant Professor of Law and Public Policy
Hostos Community College of the City University of New York (CUNY).

Hector W. Soto has been teaching courses regarding the U.S. legal system, criminal law, U.S. policing and police- community relations for more than 12 years. He is the founder of the Center for Neighborhood Leadership, a school for the training of community organizers and the promotion of community civic engagement. He is also a founding board member of Community Learning Partnership, a national organization that promotes the development of community change studies degree programs in community colleges. Professor Soto is a graduate of Queens College CUNY and the New York University School of Law.